Giving Thanks Blog Hop

Hi there everyone!

I am very proud to be joining in a very special blog hop - My cards today are for a special blog hop we're having over at STAMPlorations. The STAMPlorations girls and friends have come together for the Giving Thanks blog hop. We're sharing projects that express our gratitude. If you visit and leave comments on the stops in the hop by the 27th of November you could win your choice of (4x6) stamp set from STAMPlorations.

 I am representing my challenge blog Addicted to Stamps and More! 

I was sent a fantastic goody bag from Shery so I could showcase her fabulous new release.

Here is the cool set I was sent to play with -

CARD ONE

For the first card, I stamped the image in jet black archival ink. I let it dry completely then coloured it in by sprinkling Brushos onto my craft mat, misting them with water and picking up the colour with a brush.

I made a 'smooshed' panel from my Orange brusho and used it to die cut my sentiment.

I also die cut the sentiment three times in black cardstock and glued them altogether to give it wonderful dimension. 

Orange brusho splats with created by flicking my paintbrush finished off this card.

CARD TWO

I stamped the sentiment in different colours and die cut it three times.

I loved how this card turned out in its own simplicity. 

CARD THREE

The stencil in this pack is awesome! I used my red glitter texture paste to create my panel.

I  'played' with the sentiments to basically create a Valentines Card. 

I wasn't quite able to catch the sparkle of this card but believe me it is gorgeous!

CARD FOUR

I couldn't help but watercolour again with this image. 

Once the image was dry, I die cut it and used foam squares to pop it up. I stamped the Sentiment in jet black and then used my paintbrush once again to create my splats.

I had so much fun playing with my STAMPloration goodies! Thank you to Shery for being such a wonderful sponsor for Addicted to Stamps and More! and Addicted to CAS (which is being represented by the amazing Barb Ghig!). 

If you would like to join in the hop, you can find all the info and links for you to join in HERE

Happy Little Stampers New Release!

Hi everyone. I am quite excited because the new release for Happy Little Stampers arrived just over a week ago. I just haven't had much time to play with them :(

There are 6 new stamp sets that you can now choose from. I really loved how they have all turned out. 

I decided to have a quick play with Especially For You. The two cards I made took no time at all. I stamped up the images and simply coloured them with my Sharpie markers - that was a first for me! I highlighted the flowers on both cards with a white gel pen.

I would like to enter this card over at -

Crafty Girls Creations - Anything Goes

Julia Spiri Challenge Blog - Anything Goes with a twist: use a different colouring medium

I would like to enter this card over at -

CAS on Sunday - Flowers

Crafty Friends Challenge - For Someone Special

Thanks for popping by today. I hope you have a chance to check out the Happy Little Stampers shop :)

Brushos and Embossing

Hi there everyone. I have a card to share with you today that was inspired by one I received in the mail from the wonderfully talented Sarah (Sazzle Dazzle). It has been sitting proudly in my lounge room for weeks and weeks. I absolutely loved it - you can see her card HERE.

As well as CASEing Sarah's card, I decided to do a video tutorial as well. Unfortunately when I went to download the files from the card... well... they weren't there. Bugger. Will have to refilm it again tomorrow. So for the time being, I just have the card to share with you :)

Sarah created her brusho panel using yellow, red, and orange (I think) and the colours were amazing. I wanted to go wth a blue panel. I embossed the butterflies onto watercolour paper first. I also decided to emboss some circles for a bit of extra fun. I 'smooshed' my cardstock into three different colours of brushos (drying in between each smoosh) - Turquoise, Cobalt Blue, and Grey.

I die cut the word Smile 3 times in white cardstock and and glued them all together. The last diecut was in gold glitter paper and glued on last. This gave the sentiment amazing dimension. The sentiment was stamped onto a strip of card and then cut to size. The glitter dots finished it off.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Cards and More #169 - Watercolour

Creative Knockouts #164 - Embossing

Cardz for Galz #33 - Use at least one die

Die Cut Divas - Emboss

Here are the HLS Products I have used on this card -

          

Thanks again to Sarah for the inspiration!!

See you next time :)

Stencils and Sparkle Medium + Video Tutorial

Happy Sunday everyone. I had a 'moment' to spend in my craft room this weekend and made the most of my time by also creating another video tutorial.

Mum and I went to the Craft and Quilt Expo in Brisbane earlier this month. We picked up a few tubs of sparkle medium to share between us (among other things...) and I decided to create a couple of Christmas cards.

I used a stencil from STAMPlorations, the sparkle medium, and a sentiment from Happy Little Stampers 'Mixed Christmas Sentiments'. 

This is a Memory Box stencil, sparkle medium, and another sentiment from the HLS Mixed Christmas Sentiments set.

My video tutorial also shows you how to create a one layer card using this technique but adding a slight bit of masking as well.

I would like to enter my cards into the following challenges -

Just Add Ink #333 - Add G (my 'G' is glitter)

Fab n Funky Challenges #322 - Shades of Grey or Lots of Sparkle

Sweet Stampin' Christmas - Glitter and Sparkle

Card Mania - Let it Shine

Last but not least - here is my video tutorial

Thanks for popping by!

Brushos and Masking Fluid with Video Tutorial

Hello! I was finally able to edit and upload my video tutorial for creating a card with Brusho powders and masking fluid.  I had terrible issues with my editor, sorry. It isn't perfect.... but you will definitely get the idea.

Today I would like to share not only my video tutorial but another card I made using this technique -

You will get a better idea about how I created my mask by watching my video tutorial but I basically cut the butterfly from the HLS Butterfly Dies using post-it tape and then used masking fluid to create a larger area of the mask. Once both masks were removed, I added the brusho colours using a brush.

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges -

Crafty Cardmakers - Birthdays

and over at Addicted to CAS, Happy Little Stampers is sponsoring their Watercolour challenge!

Here is my tutorial -

These are the products I used -

          

Thanks for popping by!

Happy Little Stampers October CAS Challenge

Hi everyone and welcome back. Today is the start of a new challenge over at Happy Little Stampers.

I have created a VERY simple card. It took no time to make at all.

I stamped with the Mix Mash set in Neon Ink onto my card base. I cut a piece of vellum to fit and embossed it with a dot folder. I adhered it with vellum tape (love this stuff as you can't see it through the vellum!) and cut a smaller piece of vellum for my sentiment. Easy!!

The vellum gives you that softness over the neon that makes the card very pretty. 

There is plenty of inspiration over at the challenge blog so pop over there to get some ideas for you to enter!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenge

Thanks for popping in! See you next time.

Happy Little Stampers October CASE Challenge

Hi everyone! I hope you are well and had plenty of time to get your mojo working in your craft room. 

Today is the start of a new month of challenges over at Happy Little Stampers! The 1st of the month kicks off our CASE challenge.

We are CASEing Birgit this month.

Here is Birgit's card -

I love Birgit's vintage look. My inspiration came from the colour of the bird, the die cut behind the bird, and the embossed sentiment.

Here is my card -

To create my background, I smooshed yellow and orange brushos together onto watercolour paper. The die cut is from Sizzix and a fabulous one! I was lucky enough to get this at the HLS Craft Retreat earlier this year. I embossed the sentiment from the HLS Thinking of You set with WOW embossing powder.

I would like to enter my card into these fabulous challenges -

Cute Card Thursday - CAS

Make My Monday - No patterned paper

I hope you will join us over at Happy Little Stampers for our challenge. Don't forget we have 5 monthly challenges for you and we also have a DT call right now!

Here is the HLS stamp set that I have used today 

See you over at the challenge blog!

Brushos and Masking Fluid

Hi everyone! I wanted to have a quick play last weekend because my time in the craft room is quite limited at the moment. 

I have been helping out at a Post Office on a neighbouring island due to the owner having a hip replacement. I am also working more shifts at our local RSL club. No time for much else, waaah.

When I was in the UK for the Happy Little Stampers Craft Retreat, Carol showed us a few techniques on masking. I bought some drawing gum thanks to Carol and decided to break it out and give it a go with my brushos.

Here is my card -

I created a mask for the balloon (using a die cut and post-it tape) and masked around the edges and surrounding area with the masking fluid. 

I have created a video tutorial for this technique but am having trouble with my video editor. Hopefully I will actually get it done and uploaded this century!

I sprinkled my brusho colours onto my craft mat, spritzed them with water and used a brush to apply the colours. I added splats by loading up my paintbrush with the same colours and flicking it onto the paper. 

The sentiment is from the Happy Little Stampers Fun Birthday Sentiments set.

I would like to enter this into the following challenges -

Southern Ridge - Your Favourites (mine are definitely Brushos)

Craft for the Craic - photo inspiration

Powder Power

Use Embossing Powders or Pigment Powders.

Thanks for popping in today. Have a great Wednesday!

The Perfect Backgrounds

Hi everyone and happy Friday! Ready for the weekend?

I wanted to share with you the cards that I made from my brusho backgrounds. I created a video tutorial for you to share this fun and easy technique. You will find the link at the end of my post.

Today I received my dies and stencils from STAMPlorations. It felt like they took forever to get here from the US but that was because I was at the mail box everyday waiting.... So! I had to break them out and have a play as I knew they would be perfect to add to my backgrounds.

Here are my cards - no stamping today. Just watercoloured backgrounds and dies :)

I would like to enter this card into

Cut it up - Watercolour (must use a die as well)

STAMPlorations - Anything Goes using their products

I would like to enter this card over at

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Clean and Simple

STAMPlorations - Anything CAS Goes (no option used for me)

I would like to enter this card over at

CCEE Stampers - No stamping, just die cuts

If you would like to try making these backgrounds using Brushos and Stencils please check out my video tutorial -

Don't forget that the current CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers is -

and this technique would be perfect for you to try and then enter.

Thanks for popping by!

HLS September CAS Challenge

Hello everyone! Time for a new CAS challenge at Happy Little Stampers.

Everyone that attended the HLS Craft Retreat last month is still talking about everything they learned and sharing ideas with each other. It was such an awesome experience and it doesn't seem it will ever end. 

This month we want you to concentrate on a technique -

This is such a fun technique. I particularly love using my Brusho crystals whenever watercolouring is in order :)

Here is my card -

This is a CASE of a CASE. I CASEd Hazel way back when and I really love this design so I decided to use it again. It is such a great way to show off a panel like my Brusho panel but keeping everything very clean and simple and showing plenty of white space.

I started with one colour of Brusho straight onto the cardstock and spritzed it with water. I used my heat gun to dry the first colour and went on to the next. I repeated this with all the colours. 

I die cut the word Happy out of a scrap piece. The 'birthday' stamps is from the HLS Everyday Sentiments set. 

Check out all the inspiration over at the blog - there are also video tutorials for you!

Thanks for popping in!

HLS September CASE Challenge

Hello! Happy 1st of the month. We have a brand new set of challenges starting today over at Happy Little Stampers. I hope you will play along.

First up is our

This month we are CASEing the super talented Asa. She has created a gorgeous CAS card for us to take inspiration from.

Here is my CASE -

The butterfly die is a newbie that I got from the HLS Craft Retreat. I decided to layer a large and small butterfly together. They have been die cut from Brusho panels.

Here is a close up of the layers -

I used the Everyday Sentiment sent from Happy Little Stampers to coincide Asa's sentiment. 

I hope you will play along this month - there is always the chance to win!

Thanks for popping in today - see you on the 3rd when we kick off our CAS challenge :)